Reminders of Him

2.5/5 stars

I'm not marking spoilers so proceed at your own risk.

Because of her popularity on TikTok, Colleen Hoover's books are more likely than ever to be read by people outside her age demographic. This book is going to be read by many people whose brains are not fully developed yet. People who may not fully understand the full extent of the consequences of drugs and alcohol. But taking this into account, the idealization of driving under the influence was not okay to me. It felt tone-death.

I do understand that everyone makes mistakes and people should forgive and learn and grow from their situations, but drunk driving is a hard mistake with severe consequences. Kenna's actions killed a man and maybe I'm just heartless, but I don't those are any sort of mistakes that can be forgiven in 330 pages. Yes, she was upset about what happened and yes, she went through a lot. But driving under the influence is a choice, that she made, and it killed a man.

And maybe I'd also be less annoyed at Kenna if she went the legal way of trying to meet the child she birthed. I know the government ain't shit, but there's still programs out there that would be able to help her. What did she even think was going to happen? Just trying to ambush this family at their house??? Um no.

I definitely don't think the grandparents raising Diem (the child) were ever the villains here. I back them up entirely for taking full custody of the child. Yes, the book addresses this at the very end, but I don't feel like this was prominent enough.

And one thing that was never addressed? Ledger had absolutely no right showing Kenna pictures of Diem, especially considering at the moment Diem's guardians were very clear that they did not want Kenna in her life. It is basic respect.

And why does every CoHo male love interests have to have a weird name and lots of money? Why did Ledger have to own the bar? After he was a professional football player? And owns tow houses? Why couldn't he just be the bartender? There was no reason for him to be super rich and successful 26-year old.

Idk this entire book just didn't sit with me. I can see why people might like it or why Colleen Hoover is so addicting to some people, but the more I read her books, the more I wish she didn't touch some subjects.